PITTSBURGH - The post-practice routine for Sidney Crosby is a simple one.

Crosby, who exchanges his helmet for a sweat-stained Pittsburgh Penguins ball cap but, otherwise, doesn’t remove his equipment (other than his gloves), settles into his dressing room stall as a crush of television and radio reporters descend.

Once the questions are done and the group disperses, the call from a Penguins communications employee to the room goes out. Print and web media, it’s your turn.

Through both scrums on Friday at the Penguins’ practice facility, Crosby made it clear that he is in line with coach Dan Bylsma, who had said a day earlier that his team’s work ethic through four games of the opening round against the Columbus Blue Jackets was not good enough.

“He was right,” Crosby said. “For whatever reason, we have not been desperate enough.